Jaromir Jagr's 5 Greatest Games as a New Jersey Devil

When Jaromir Jagr signed with the New Jersey Devils on July 22, 2013, the Devils acquired one of the greatest forwards to ever play in the NHL. Jagr is sixth all-time in goals, seventh in assists, fifth in points and first in game-winning goals.

In his first season in New Jersey, he was a roaring success. He was second on the team in goals with 24 and first on the team in assists and points with 43 and 67, respectively. His plus/minus was a ludicrous plus-16, 13 better than any other Devil.

The Devils fell short of the playoffs, but bringing Jagr back for another season was a no-brainer for New Jersey.

This season, however, has been a struggle at times for Jagr, who turned 43 this month. 

He has 11 goals and 18 assists, a disappointing output for a legendary player. In recent weeks, he had seen less ice time, as the Devils have tried to make changes to turn around a disappointing season.

Thursday, the inevitable finally happened—the Devils traded Jagr, sending him to Florida for a second- and third-round pick, according to NHL.com.

Though his time in New Jersey was short, the presence of such a tremendous player is worth celebrating nonetheless. As a last farewell to Jagr, this list will take a look at his top five games as a New Jersey Devil.

Honorable Mentions

October 25, 2014: Jagr Scores Overtime Winner Against Senators

It is fitting to start this list with an overtime goal from Jagr, who has more overtime goals than any NHL player in league history.

With a four-on-three advantage in the extra period, Jagr received a pass from Eric Gelinas in the neutral zone. He carried the puck over the blue line, unleashing a laser that sneaked past Robin Lehner.

Given New Jersey's struggles in overtime and shootouts over the last two seasons, Jagr's game-winner provided a much-needed boost to a Devils team that was off to a slow start.

December 29, 2014: Jagr Gets Revenge Against Pittsburgh with Help from Tootoo

When the Devils and Penguins met on December 1, Robert Bortuzzo delivered a late hit on Jagr, ultimately knocking the Czech star out of the game. 

Nearly a month later, Jagr scored his 126th game-winning goal, getting a modicum of revenge against his former team. His goal powered the Devils to a 3-1 win, their first one in regulation since December 4. 

The goal came from a superhuman wrist shot from the right side, which seemed to pass Marc-Andre Fleury before the goalie even had a chance to react. 

Jagr, as is often the case, was a consummate professional and good teammate after the game. He said of Jordin Tootoo, who fought Bortuzzo twice, "He changed the game. He stood up for us. He won both fights. He should be the No. 1 star," per NHL.com.

November 29, 2013: Jagr Gets Three Points, Equals Yzerman in All-Time Goals

Devils fans were lucky enough to see Jaromir Jagr at a time when he was passing a series of legendary players on the all-time goals list.

One of those players was Steve Yzerman. The goal above was Jagr's 692nd, which tied him for eighth in NHL career goals.

Fittingly, his record goal came in a game that also featured Jagr's playmaking skills. He picked up secondary assists on goals by Mark Fayne and Dainius Zubrus; both came as a result of his uncanny ability to hold onto the puck in the corners. 

If any aspect of Jagr's game was certainly not in question during his time in New Jersey, it was his strength and fitness. Until the day he was traded, Jagr participated in nearly every optional skate the Devils held.

This was one of four games as a Devil in which Jagr had three or more points.

November 21, 2013: OT Game-Winner Beats Kings, Ties Lemieux for Goals

When Jagr earned the Devils a victory in overtime against the Los Angeles Kings in 2013, it was surely meaningful to fans, players and Jagr himself.

For Devils fans and players, it was a touch of revenge and closure. New Jersey managed to get two points in the building in which their Stanley Cup dreams were dashed in 2012. 

For Jagr, who spent 2012 in Philadelphia and was ultimately knocked out of the playoffs by the Devils, the goal had a much more personal meaning. The overtime game-winner, Jagr's 690th career goal, tied him with former teammate Mario Lemieux on the all-time goals list.

He shared his thoughts on Lemieux and the achievement after the game, per NHL.com:

"

When I came in the League I was playing with Mario. He was the guy I was looking up to. I know Wayne (Gretzky) got all the records, but to me, I got a better chance to look for Mario. I could see him every day in practice, the way he plays. He was a huge influence on the game I play.

I was pretty lucky to see him at his best. I tied him, but he probably played 600 less games than me. This is just a number, but he didn't play many games. If he would have played as many games as me, he would probably have 2,500 points and 900 goals.

"

Though it was only one goal, its importance to both team and player put this game on the list of Jagr's greatest as a Devil. 

March 11, 2014: Game-Winner, Assist from Jagr Power Devils over Flyers

Though he was 42 years old, Jagr's strength and quick hands were not in doubt when the Devils took on the Flyers in March 2014. New Jersey won the game 2-1.

The goal above, which won the game for the Devils, features Jagr posting up veteran defenseman Mark Streit, followed by the Czech superstar striking first on a loose puck. He managed to squeeze it through Philadelphia's Steve Mason, ultimately winning the game for New Jersey.

Jagr also assisted on the Devils' first goal, slotting a perfect pass to Travis Zajac in front of the goal. Zajac dragged the puck around Mason, giving the Devils' a 1-0 lead. 

The Flyers' Nick Grossman leveled the score for Philadelphia 47 seconds into the second period, but Jagr's third-period goal put the Devils back in front for good. 

Though he had only two points, both of Jagr's contributions were crucial to New Jersey beating one of its biggest rivals. For his important contributions in a close, low-scoring game, this game makes the list.

March 31, 2014: Jagr Four Point Night Helps Zajac to Hat Trick, Devils to Win

The story of this 6-3 victory over the Florida Panthers was rightfully about Travis Zajac, who scored a hat trick in New Jersey's demolition of Florida.

But, the story could have just as easily been about Jagr, who picked up four points of his own.

If there was one game in New Jersey that showcased pieces of everything Jagr brings to a team, it was this one. 

Jagr's goal came on a wicked wrist-shot than left Dan Ellis stunned. That wrist shot is the biggest physical offensive weapon the Czech winger still has to offer, and Florida will be happy that it now has Jagr's shot on their side.

Two of Jagr's three assists came on Zajac goals. Jagr has a knack for making players around him better, something that Zajac benefited from more than just on this one night. 

Perhaps though, the most telling aspect of his contributions from this game are those related to his hard skating in the offensive and neutral zones. His first assist, which came on a Zajac goal 12 seconds into the game, was simply a function of crashing the net hard. He got a shot off in the midst of a goal-mouth scramble which ultimately Zajac jammed into the net.

The assist in the video above came from forcing a turnover in the neutral zone, then knocking the puck ahead, where Tuomo Ruutu and Zajac took care of the rest.

Though there is a more flashy and memorable game ahead in the list, this game ought to linger in the brains of Devils' fans for just as long.

January 3, 2015: Jagr Becomes Oldest Player in NHL History to Record Hat Trick

Occasionally, truly legendary players who are past their prime produce moments or games of pure magic, reminding everyone what they are still capable of. When this happens, it is a true treat for fans.

On January 3, Jagr did just that. At 42 years and 322 days old, he became the oldest player in NHL history to record a hat trick. 

For his first goal, he capitalized on a puck-handling mistake by goalie Ray Emery but still needed to finish from behind the goal into an empty net to give the Devils a 1-0 lead.

His second goal came from a patented Jagr wrist shot, as he beat Emery with four seconds left in the first period. When that goal made the game 3-0, it was all but over against the struggling Flyers. The only question that remained was: Will Jagr get his hat trick?

He only made us wait 13 minutes for our answer. At 12:32 of the second period, Jagr scored the goal in the video above. It is a testament to his hard work and quick thinking that he managed to score in this way, when surely everyone in the building knew that he had to be the target whenever he was on the ice.

Jagr picked up only four more points as a Devil after this game.

Nonetheless, he was undoubtedly one of New Jersey's top forwards during his two seasons as a Devil. Though the team has achieved essentially nothing during his time in the organization, Jagr has still been constantly fun to watch. 

The thanks of the New Jersey Devils fans, players and staff ought to accompany him to Florida.